Skiers and riders have been curious about what the new Summit Chair at Sugar Bowl Resort will be like since the resort announced it last summer. Those folks will finally get a chance to see for themselves as Sugar Bowl plans to run the lift for the first time on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009.

The recent winter storm that left behind more than four feet of snow in the Lake Tahoe region, coupled with the current storm that added 10 inches more at Sugar Bowl, has improved skiing and riding conditions enough for the Summit Chair to open earlier than anticipated.

The CTEC-built Garraventa fixed-grip quad, rising 420 vertical feet to the summit of Mt. Judah, can be accessed by riding the Mt. Judah Express lift, then skiing or riding a short distance to the new lift’s bottom terminal. Accessing the expert-only runs of the Judah Bowl, the new chairlift also improves lift service to Sugar Bowl’s impressive sidecountry terrain, with the new Backcountry Adventure Center taking skiers and riders on professionally-guided powder tours, teaching the skills needed for safe backcountry travel.

The Summit Chair was installed at Sugar Bowl this past summer, employing environmental installation techniques that helped earn Sugar Bowl an “A” rating in this year’s environmental review from the Ski Area Citizens Coalition. The Summit chair is the resort’s 13th lift and the first to be installed at Sugar Bowl since the Mt. Lincoln Express upgrade in 2000.

The resort has also planned an official celebration for the new Summit Chair on January 30th, part of Sugar Bowl’s 70th anniversary festivities.â€¨ â€¨

For more information on Sugar Bowl Resort including interactive trail maps of the new Summit Chair, visit www.sugarbowl.com or call (530) 426-6724.â€¨

Interested in checking it out with fellow Sierra Snowboard community members? Check out the Meet Up To Ride date already created.